Degree of Conversion and Hardness of Two Different Systems of the VitrebondTM Glass Ionomer Cement Light Cured with Blue LED
ABSTRACT This study investigated the physicochemical properties of the new formulation of the glass ionomer cements through hardness test and degree of conversion by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Forty specimens (n = 40) were made in a metallic mold (4 mm diameter x 2 mm thickness) with two resin-modified glass ionomer cements, VitrebondTM and VitrebondTM Plus (3M/ ESPE). Each specimen was light cured with blue LED with power density of 500 mW/cm2 during 30 s. Immediately after light curing, 24h, 48h and 7 days the hardness and degree of conversion was determined. The Vickers hardness was performed by the MMT-3 microhardness tester using load of 50 gm force for 30 seconds. For degree of conversion, the specimens were pulverized, pressed with KBr and analyzed with FT-IR (Nexus 470). The statistical analysis of the data by ANOVA showed that the VitrebondTM and VitrebondTM Plus were no difference significant between the same storage times (p > 0.05). For degree of conversion, the VitrebondTM and VitrebondTM Plus were statistically different in all storage times after light curing. The VitrebondTM showed higher values than VitrebondTM Plus (p < 0.05). The performance of VitrebondTM had greater results for degree of conversion than VitrebondTM Plus. The correlation between hardness and degree of conversion was no evidence in this study. How to cite this article Calixto LR, Tonetto MR, Pinto SCS, Barros ED, Borges AH, Lima FVP, de Andrade MF, Bandéca MC. Degree of Conversion and Hardness of Two Different Systems of the VitrebondTM Glass Ionomer Cement Light Cured with Blue LED. J Contemp Dent Pract 2013;14(2): 244-249.